Translation and Meaning of: 友達 - tomodachi

The Japanese word 友達 (ともだち, tomodachi) is one of the first we learn when studying the language. It represents a universal concept: friendship. But do we really know all the details behind this common term? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and cultural uses of 友達, as well as practical tips for those who want to memorize it or understand its role in everyday Japanese life. If you have already used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know how important it is to go beyond simple translation.

Meaning and use of 友達 in everyday Japanese

友達 is a word composed of the kanji 友 (friend) and 達 (a suffix that indicates plurality), forming the meaning of "friends." Unlike the English "friend," which can be singular or plural depending on the context, 友達 already carries a notion of collectivity. In daily life, Japanese people use this word to refer to close friends, but not necessarily intimate ones like 親友 (shinyuu), which indicates best friends.

An interesting fact is that, although the kanji 達 suggests plural, 友達 can be used for both a single friend and a group. For example, saying "Tomodachi ga iru" (友達がいる) can mean "I have a friend" or "I have friends," depending on the context. This flexibility is common in Japanese and can confuse beginners.

The origin and components of 友達

The etymology of 友 dates back to ancient Chinese, where the character represented two hands helping each other — an image that reflects the concept of friendship well. Meanwhile, 達 originally conveyed the idea of "reaching" or "connecting," but in modern Japanese, it primarily functions as a marker of plurality for people or living beings.

It is worth noting that 友達 (tomodachi) is one of the few words in Japanese where the suffix 達 (tachi) is used in a lexicalized way, meaning it has fused with the root and cannot be separated without losing its meaning. This distinguishes it from constructions like 先生達 (sensei-tachi), where the suffix is productive and can be removed.

Friendship in Japanese culture and society

In Japan, the concept of friendship has specific nuances. While in some Western cultures it is common to refer to acquaintances as "friends," the Japanese tend to reserve 友達 for more established relationships. Research shows that Japanese adults, on average, have fewer 友達 than Brazilians or Americans, but with more lasting bonds.

In the media, 友達 often appears in animes and dramas, frequently as a central theme. Series like "Natsume Yuujinchou" explore the depth of this word, while romantic comedies use the tension between "tomodachi" and "koibito" (boyfriend/girlfriend) as a plotline. This duality reflects how friendship is valued — and sometimes feared — in Japanese culture.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 仲間 (nakama) - Companion, comrade, someone with whom one shares a goal or interest.
• 仲良し (nakayoshi) - Close friend or buddy, a person with whom one has a friendly and warm relationship.
• 友人 (yuujin) - Friend, a person with whom one has a friendship, usually in a more formal or distant relationship.
• お友達 (otomodachi) - Friend, a more respectful or affectionate way to refer to a friend.
• フレンド (furendo) - Friend, a word borrowed from English, used in informal contexts and on social media.

友達

Romaji: tomodachi
Kana: ともだち
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: friend

Meaning in English: friend

Definition: To get along well with friends and colleagues.

Example Sentences - (友達) tomodachi

See below some example sentences:

遠方から来た友達に会いに行きたいです。

Toofu kara kita tomodachi ni ai ni ikitai desu

I want to go meet a friend who came from far away.

I want to go see a friend from afar.

• 遠方 (enpou) - distant
• から (kara) - of
• 来た (kita) - came
• 友達 (tomodachi) - friend
• に (ni) - for
• 会いに (aini) - find
• 行きたい (ikitai) - I want to go
• です (desu) - is

酒場で友達と楽しい時間を過ごしました。

Sakaba de tomodachi to tanoshii jikan wo sugoshimashita

I had fun with my friends at the bar.

• 酒場 (sakaba) - bar/pub
• で (de) - Article indicating the location where an action takes place.
• 友達 (tomodachi) - amigo(s)
• と (to) - particle indicating "with"
• 楽しい (tanoshii) - divertido
• 時間 (jikan) - tempo/horas
• を (wo) - Article indicating the object of the action
• 過ごしました (sugoshimashita) - spent/had (a good time)

金曜日には友達と遊びに行く予定です。

Kin'yōbi ni wa tomodachi to asobi ni iku yotei desu

I have plans to go out with friends on Friday.

I plan to go play with my friends on Friday.

• 金曜日 - Friday
• には - time indication, "on Friday"
• 友達 - friends
• と - particle that indicates company, "with"
• 遊びに行く - go to have fun
• 予定 - plan, schedule
• です - verb ser/estar in the present, "is/is"

私は友達を励ますために彼女にエールを送ります。

Watashi wa tomodachi o hagemasu tame ni kanojo ni ēru o okurimasu

I send an encouragement message to my friend to encourage her.

I send her a beer to encourage my friends.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "friend" is the object of the action
• 励ます (hagemasu) - verb meaning "to encourage"
• ために (tameni) - expression that indicates the purpose of the action, in this case "to encourage the friend"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "she"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the recipient of the action, in this case "she" is the recipient of the encouragement
• エール (eeru) - noun meaning "support" or "encouragement"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "support" is the object of the action
• 送ります (okurimasu) - verb meaning "to send"

犬は忠実な友達です。

Inu wa chūjitsu na tomodachi desu

Dogs are loyal friends.

Dogs are faithful friends.

• 犬 (いぬ) - dog
• は - Topic particle
• 忠実 (ちゅうじつ) - loyal
• な - Particle indicating adjective
• 友達 (ともだち) - friend
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

友達は大切です。

Tomodachi wa taisetsu desu

Friends are important.

Friends are important.

• 友達 (tomodachi) - friend
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 大切 (taisetsu) - important, valuable
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

キャンパスで友達を作りたいです。

Kyampusu de tomodachi wo tsukuritai desu

I want to make friends on campus.

• キャンパス (kyanpasu) - campus
• で (de) - in
• 友達 (tomodachi) - amigo/amiga
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 作りたい (tsukuritai) - want to do/create
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

マイクは私の友達です。

Maiku wa watashi no tomodachi desu

Mike is my friend.

• マイク - first name in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I"
• の - possessive particle in Japanese
• 友達 - Japanese noun meaning "friend"
• です - Japanese verb to be in polite form

ママは私の最高の友達です。

Mama wa watashi no saikou no tomodachi desu

Mom is my best friend.

• ママ (Mama) - mother
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私の (watashi no) - my
• 最高の (saikou no) - the best
• 友達 (tomodachi) - amigo/amiga
• です (desu) - Ser/estar (linking verb)

三人の友達と一緒に遊ぶ。

Mittsu no tomodachi to issho ni asobu

Play with three friends.

Play with three friends.

• 三人 - three people
• の - Possession particle
• 友達 - friends
• と - connecting particle
• 一緒に - together
• 遊ぶ - Play